Prescription-based travel route recommendation

Abstract

In general, embodiments of the present invention relate to prescription-based travel route recommendation. In a typical embodiment, a prescription related to a medical condition of a patient is received (e.g., electronically in a computer memory medium or the like). Among other things, the prescription typically comprises a set of criteria (e.g., route specifics such as topography/incline, mode of travel such as walking, running, cycling, etc.) for a desired travel route for the patient. Then, using global positioning satellite (GPS) technology or the like, the system will access/receive information corresponding to a geographical area associated with the patient. Using this information, a set of possible travel routes between a starting point and a destination within the geographical area will be determined. Then, by comparing the set of criteria to the information, at least one travel route will be identified from the possible travel routes for treating the medical condition. Once identified, one or more specific travel routes can be recommended (e.g., to the patient).

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A computer-implemented method for prescription-based travel route recommendation, comprising:
 receiving, from a hospital server, a prescription related to a medical condition of a patient in a computer memory medium, the prescription being issued from a health care provider and comprising a set of criteria for a desired travel route for the patient, the set of criteria comprising, a time of day for traversing the desired travel route and an indication as to whether the travel route should be flat or hilly; 
 receiving, from the health care provider, a starting point and a destination within a geographical area associated with the patient; 
 receiving authorization to base a travel route recommendation on the prescription; 
 receiving topographical information, from a global positioning system, corresponding to the geographical area associated with the patient; 
 identifying a set of possible travel routes between the starting point and the destination within the geographical area based on the information; 
 determining at least one travel route from the possible travel routes for treating the medical condition based on a comparison of the set of criteria to the topographical information; and 
 recommending the at least one travel route to the patient. 
 
     
     
       2. The computer-implemented method of  claim 1 , the prescription being received by electronic communication from the health care provider. 
     
     
       3. The computer-implemented method of  claim 1 , the information comprising topographical information pertaining to the geographical area. 
     
     
       4. The computer-implemented method of  claim 3 , the topographical information being received from using global positioning satellite (GPS) technology. 
     
     
       5. The computer-implemented method of  claim 1 , the at least one travel route comprising a set of geographical points. 
     
     
       6. A system for a prescription-based travel route recommendation, comprising:
 a memory medium comprising instructions; 
 a bus coupled to the memory medium; and 
 a processor coupled to the bus that when executing the instructions causes the system to:
 receive, from a hospital server, a prescription related to a medical condition of a patient in a computer memory medium, the prescription being issued from a health care provider and comprising a set of criteria for a desired travel route for the patient, the set of criteria comprising, a time of day for traversing the desired travel route and an indication as to whether the travel route should be flat or hilly; 
 receive, from the health care provider, a starting point and a destination within a geographical area associated with the patient; 
 receive authorization to base a travel route recommendation on the prescription: 
 receive topographical information, from a global positioning system, corresponding to the geographical area associated with the patient; 
 identify, by the patient, a set of possible travel routes between the starting point and the destination within the geographical area based on the information; 
 determine at least one travel route from the possible travel routes for treating the medical condition based on a comparison of the set of criteria to the topographical information; and 
 recommend the at least one travel route to the patient. 
 
 
     
     
       7. The system of  claim 6 , the prescription being received by electronic communication from the health care provider. 
     
     
       8. The system of  claim 6 , the information comprising topographical information pertaining to the geographical area. 
     
     
       9. The system of  claim 8 , the topographical information being received from using global positioning satellite (GPS) technology. 
     
     
       10. The computer-implemented method of  claim 6 , the at least one travel route comprising a set of geographical points. 
     
     
       11. A computer program product for a prescription-based travel route recommendation, the computer program product comprising a computer readable storage media, and program instructions stored on the computer readable storage media, to:
 receiving, from a hospital server, a prescription related to a medical condition of a patient in a computer memory medium, the prescription being issued from a health care provider and comprising a set of criteria for a desired travel route for the patient, the set of criteria comprising, a time of day for traversing the desired travel route and an indication as to whether the travel route should be flat or hilly; 
 receiving, from the health care provider, a starting point and a destination within a geographical area associated with the patient; 
 receiving authorization to base a travel route recommendation on the prescription; 
 receive topographical information, from a global positioning system, corresponding to the geographical area associated with the patient; 
 identify, by the patient, a set of possible travel routes between the starting point and the destination within the geographical area based on the information; 
 determine at least one travel route from the possible travel routes for treating the medical condition based on a comparison of the set of criteria to the topographical information; and 
 recommend the at least one travel route to the patient. 
 
     
     
       12. The computer program product of  claim 11 , the prescription being received by electronic communication from a health care provider. 
     
     
       13. The computer program product of  claim 11 , the information comprising topographical information pertaining to the geographical area. 
     
     
       14. The computer program product of  claim 13 , the topographical information being received from using global positioning satellite (GPS) technology. 
     
     
       15. The computer program product of  claim 11 , the at least one travel route comprising a set of geographical points.